Metal roof cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,300 – $28,000
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.10 – $14
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #293
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Smith homeowners pay roughly $8,300 to $28,000 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.10 to $14 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Smith is 15% lower. Roofers earn a median of $21.27 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 20% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$14,200 to $22,100
About $7 to $11 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,000 |
| Labor | $8,200 | $10,700 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $340 |
| Total | $14,200 | $22,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $8,400 | $15,000 | 46% |
| Labor | $6,300 | $9,450 | $12,600 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $280 | $430 | 2% |
| Total | $8,300 | $18,100 | $28,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Fort Smith number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: roofers at 70%, sheet metal workers at 20%, construction laborers at 10%. Weighted together, Fort Smith wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Smith metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,400, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) and land at $130 to $430.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Fort Smith is 0.79 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $21.27 an hour, which is 20% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $17.80 and $24.62 an hour. BLS counts 140 of them working in the area, 14.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.22 an hour, which is 25% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $17.15 and $22.29 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 6.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $17.77 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $21.83 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 70.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.62 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,050. At the 25th percentile ($17.80) it shrinks by about $1,100. The total moves by 5.8% or 6.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,560 jobs in the Fort Smith area. That makes it the 210th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $17.80 | $21.27 | $24.62 | $26.65 | 0.80 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $17.15 | $22.22 | $22.29 | $29.71 | 0.75 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $16.31 | $17.77 | $21.83 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Fort Smith
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Smith wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$8,300 to $16,200
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,200 to $22,100
Standing seam steel
Premium
$20,100 to $28,000
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,050 – $9,800 | $8,600 – $13,400 | $12,200 – $17,000 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,300 – $16,200 | $14,200 – $22,100 | $20,100 – $28,000 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $11,600 – $22,500 | $19,800 – $30,800 | $28,000 – $39,000 |
When to schedule metal roof in Fort Smith
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Smith Rgnl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Smith (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Fort Smith gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 78 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 30 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 57 | 33 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 51 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 3.5 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Smith bid
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
Labor
Metal roof labor is $4-$8 per sq ft, or $400-$800 per roofing square, and standing seam needs specialist crews.
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
Planning more than one job in Fort Smith?
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Smith's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −9% and vinyl siding −17%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,100 – $10,700 | −15% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,700 | −13% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $900 – $3,650 | −9% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,000 – $21,000 | −17% |
How Fort Smith compares
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Tulsa is the priciest of the group at $19,500. Joplin is the cheapest at $17,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $8,300 – $28,000 | $18,100 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,600 | +3% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | +7% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $7,850 – $27,200 | $17,500 | −3% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,700 | +3% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $8,550 – $28,500 | $18,500 | +2% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $8,600 – $28,700 | $18,600 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +18% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Smith comes in at #293 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $29,600; the cheapest is Lubbock, TX at $17,000 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,700 | +3% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $8,650 – $28,700 | $18,600 | +3% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $8,550 – $28,500 | $18,500 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Smith's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | +4% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | +4% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $10,800 – $34,400 | $22,600 | +25% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $12,600 – $37,000 | $24,800 | +37% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $14,200 to $22,100 for Fort Smith, AR is attached.
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Metal roof in Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Fort Smith?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,300 to $28,000 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,200 to $22,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for metal roof in Fort Smith?
About $4.10 to $14 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $130 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $18,600, which is 3% more than Fort Smith ($18,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $9,450 out of $18,100. Materials are 46% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Fort Smith?
$8,300 to $28,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Fort Smith?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $430 for fees in the Fort Smith area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($18,600 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $21.27 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.80 to $24.62.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Fort Smith?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,300 to $16,200 and premium work $20,100 to $28,000. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+When is the best time to install a metal roof in Fort Smith?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. January and February are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Metal roof near Fort Smith
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $4-$8/sq ft labor range for metal roofs.